The Citizen, 2011-06-16, Page 8PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011.Sports
The Brussels Tri-County Squirts
are off to a great season with a
record of 4-1.
The first game of the year was a
win May 9 against Holmesville,
with five strikeouts by pitchers Jack
Pipe and Jessica Johnston. Included
in the scoring was a homerun by
Ben Newell.
Game two was a loss to Mitchell
on May 10. With 11 strikeouts by
Pipe and Johnston and base hits
from Tyler Van der Meer and
Johnston, it was a close game.
Game three gave a win against
Belgrave on May 17. Base hits were
counted by Johnston, Pipe, Heather
Hastings, Newell, Shaelynn Brown,
Mitch McKee, Nolan Johnston,
Andrew Fear and Van der Meer.
Pitchers Pipe and Johnston
combined to offer 11 strikeouts.
Game four was on May 30 against
Mitchell and it was another win for
Brussels. The team effort included
six strikeouts by Pipe and Jessica
Johnston along with a homerun by
Nolan Johnston and base hits by
McKee and Newell.
Game five was on June 8 and it
was a win against Seaforth with a
homerun by Newell along with base
hits by Nolan Johnston, Jessica
Johnston, Pipe, Newell and McKee.
Pitchers Pipe and Jessica Johnston
offered up 16 strikeouts.
The team also includes Jasmine
Vader, Ally Miners, Zach Walsh and
Micah Kipfer.
The team is improving drastically
with lots of bases on balls to help
out the scoring and great defensive
plays. Great job Brussels Squirts.
Home games are at the main park
in Brussels on Monday nights at 7
p.m. Upcoming home games
include Sunday, June 19 at 7 p.m.,
Monday, June 27 at 7 p.m. and
Monday, July 4 at 7 p.m.Getting fitted
The Brussels Atom Bulls were fitted for new jackets recently for being one of the province’s
finalists earlier this year. Players will be sporting their new fashions later this year for the
2011/2012 season. (Photo submitted)
Local competition
Dawn Conrad, right, of Blyth Public School was just a step
ahead of Hullett Central Public School’s Aaly Broda during
a race at the regional track and field event held at Central
Huron Secondary School on June 7. (Denny Scott photo)
Troopers Champ doesn’t have a lot
of experience under his belt
according to his owner Jack Watson,
but the four-year-old pacing gelding
can win if he keeps his focus.
Watson, who runs Watson’s Hog
Assemblers on Blyth Road just
outside of Blyth, as well as operating
the farm adjacent, stated that the
horse, who won a race at the Clinton
Raceway two weeks ago and placed
third during a race last Sunday, had
qualified for the event and could win
if he focuses.
“If he behaves he can win,” he
said. “He has a tendency to make
breaks and take himself out of the
race.”
According to Watson and wife
Kim, the horse is still new to
racing.
“He may be four years old, but he
only has seven races under his belt,”
Watson said.
“He’s only a baby in racing, he’s
still learning his lessons,” Kim
added.
Troopers Champ is being trained
by Paul Taylor of Clinton and driven
by Trevor Henry and won’t be the
first horse that the Watsons have sent
to the track.
“He was bred and raised at home,”
Watson said. “Raising animals is in
my blood, my dad and I have had
horses throughout the 1980s. We’re a
livestock family.”
Other horses that fared well at the
track from Watson’s farm include
Smart Viking and JD’s Dixie.
“It’s great to have a home-raised
animal do good, but it’s not my
passion,” he said. “I raise animals
for the love of the animals.”
The race has a $25,000 purse
which is split among the top five
horses with the winner receiving 50
per cent of the purse, second place
receiving 25 per cent, third place
receiving 12 per cent, fourth place
receiving eight per cent and fifth
place receiving five per cent
according to Watson.
“We’re looking forward to
Sunday,” Watson said. “And it would
definitely be nice to get a piece of
that purse.”
Brussels Squirts
start season 4-1
Local horse competes for $25k
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Troopers Champ
Troopers Champ, a horse owned by Blyth-area livestock-breeder Jack Watson, will be
competing in a $25,000 purse race during the Central Huron Stakes Finals. Troopers Champ
is shown here driven by Trevor Henry. (photo submitted)